The smart card is embedded with a microchip called plastic card (usually a credit card size). Some smart cards contain a microelectronics chip that requires data exchange through the reader. Smart cards are equipped with CPU, RAM and I / O, can handle a large number of data without interfering with the work of the host CPU. The smart card also filters out the wrong data to reduce the burden on the host CPU. Adapt to the number of ports and communication speed more demanding occasions. The IC's integrated circuits include a central processing unit CPU, a programmable read-only memory EEPROM, a random access memory RAM, and a card operating system COS (Chip Operating System) that is solidified in a read-only memory ROM. The data in the card is divided into external read and internal processing.

"Smart card" is based on IC card technology as the core, to computer and communication technology as a means of intelligent building within the various facilities connected into an organic whole, the user through an IC card can complete the usual key, capital settlement , Attendance and some control operations, such as lC card to open the door, IC card dining, shopping, entertainment, meetings, parking, patrol, office, fees and other services. And do not have to carry more than the previous heavy key to open the door, to the corresponding departments to pay and other complicated operations. The whole system can monitor and manage the departments according to their needs. The local systems and terminals can automatically summarize the collected information for system query, aggregation, statistics, management and decision-making. Through the IC card can communicate with each other, both to meet the independence of the various functions of management, but also to ensure the consistency of the overall management. From different occasions can be divided into: campus smart card, cell smart card, office building smart card, corporate smart card, the hotel smart card, intelligent building smart card and so on. According to the card type can be divided into: IC card (the most widely used), ID card (step out), CPU card (development trend)

IC card is the integrated circuit card (Integrated CircuitCard) in English abbreviation, in some countries also known as smart cards, smart cards, microchip cards. Will be a dedicated integrated circuit chip embedded in the ISO7816 standard PVC (or ABS, etc.) plastic substrate, packaged into a form similar to the form of card with the card, that is made of an IC card. Of course, can also be packaged into buttons, keys, accessories and other special shapes.

The initial idea of the IC card was raised by the Japanese. In December 1969, Kunitaka Arimura of Japan proposed a secure and reliable credit card method and patented in 1970, which was called the Identification Card. In 1974, RolandMoreno of France invented a plastic card with an integrated circuit chip and made a patent, which was an early IC card. In 1976 the French company (Bull) developed the world's first IC card. In 1984, France's PTT (Posts, Telegraphs and Teephones) IC card for the phone card, because the IC card good security and reliability, access to an unexpected success. Subsequently, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC, International ElectrotechnicalCommission) of the Joint Technical Committee to develop a series of international standards, norms, greatly promoted the IC card research and development.